Tag Archives: bernstein

Terry's England U-turn! Disgraced former captain wants to play in World Cup

ahead of Ferdinand, can pick the pair for the fixtures against the Republic of Ireland on May 29 and the trip to Brazil on June 2.

Terry’s U-turn comes days after he snubbed outgoing FA chairman David Bernstein at the Champions League handover in London.

Bernstein took the England armband away from Terry during a phone call last February after it was announced Terry would stand trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court over the incident with Anton Ferdinand at Loftus Road on October 23, 2011.

Moving on: Terry is prepared to play with Rio Ferdinand despite his clash with Anton Ferdinand (below)

The FA chairman’s handling of the
affair led to Fabio Capello quitting as England head coach four months
before the start of Euro 2012.

But Terry, 32, is ready to end his self-imposed international exile, despite the bad blood with Bernstein.

He announced his international retirement on the eve of the FA hearing into claims that he used ‘abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour’ towards Anton Ferdinand.

Snub: Terry refused to shake the hand of FA chairman David Bernstein earlier this month

Terry had already been cleared by
Westminster Magistrates’ Court, but an independent FA commission found
him guilty, banning him for four matches and fining him 220,000.

The Chelsea skipper apologised for his inappropriate language in a statement that day and vowed to clean up his act.

His
last game for England was as a substitute in the 5-0 victory over
Moldova in a World Cup qualifier in September. He served a four-match
domestic ban for the Anton Ferdinand affair, but the FA did not impose
an international ban because the defender had already decided to quit
England.

Retrospective action from the FA now would raise the argument that he is being punished twice for the same offence.

Hodgson is spending a few days away, but the development will be a surprise to him. He recalled West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Ben Foster to the squad for the World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro last month after persuading him out of international retirement.

Sidelined: Terry has often had to settle for a place on the bench with Chelsea this season

The Chelsea defender, who has a year left on a 150,000-a-week deal, has admitted his club future is in doubt after nearly 15 years at Stamford Bridge. He has started just nine Barclays Premier League games this season.

‘I’m not in the strongest position to go knocking on the door and I understand I can’t be around forever,’ he said.

‘Wherever I go after Chelsea it certainly wouldn’t be in England. I couldn’t do that to Chelsea or the fans, that’s just not me.

‘My future depends on who the manager is next season, but I’ll wait for the club. I’ve got a great relationship with the guys who make those decisions.’

Former Man United director Dyke voted as new FA chairman, replacing outgoing Bernstein

By
Charles Sale

PUBLISHED:

11:30 GMT, 21 March 2013

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UPDATED:

11:54 GMT, 21 March 2013

Former Manchester United director and TV mogul Greg Dyke has been voted through as the next FA chairman, replacing the outgoing incumbent David Bernstein.

Dyke, 65, will replace Bernstein when he leaves the post after two-and-a-half years in July – and takes the helm from Saturday July 13.

Dyke told the FA website: 'Football has always been a big part of my life whether playing 11-a-side on Sunday mornings or six-a-side on Thursday evenings.

Main man: Former United director Dyke will take the helm at the FA

'I was brought up in a household where my father was much more interested in whether or not you had won at football than whether you had passed your exams. In my case that was just as well.

'I still turn out to play six-a-side some Thursday evenings although at my age I seem to spend more time injured than playing.

'I supported my local team Brentford as a kid where my elder brother was a junior, watched York City while at university and followed Manchester United whenever I could.

'I got involved in how the game was run
when I was first involved in buying sports rights as Chairman of ITV
Sport in the late eighties and later at the BBC.

Game over: Bernstein's (left) tenure at the FA will soon come to an end

'I learnt a lot in the years when I was on the Board of Manchester United and have seen the other side of the professional game at Brentford.'

The FA said in a statement: 'The Football Association Board has today unanimously approved the nomination for Greg Dyke to be appointed independent FA chairman.

'Dyke, 65, will take over as chairman from David Bernstein when he leaves the post after two-and-a-half years in July – subject to approval by the FA council. The appointment will take effect from Saturday, July 13.

Football man: Dyke's local team while growing up was Brentford – where he became non-executive chairman in 2006

'This follows a recruitment process led
by FA independent director Roger Devlin (chairman of the nominations
committee) with fellow board members Roger Burden and Keith Lamb.

'In a high-profile broadcasting industry career, Dyke has worked as director general of the BBC and managing director of London Weekend Television.

'Dyke has had a long background in football. He was a director of Manchester United in the late nineties and since 2006 he has been non-executive chairman of Brentford Football Club, the team he supported as a boy. He will relinquish this role at the end of the season to take up his new post at the FA.'

Red alert: United director Gill (seen with Dyke) is also on the FA board

The MCC are embroiled in yet another
internal row after chairman Oliver Stocken astonished members of
cricket’s most famous private club with his comments about the main
committee election.

Stocken, who has been accused by
legal grandee Lord Grabiner of running MCC like a ‘personal fiefdom’,
damned the six candidates in the ballot, saying he wouldn’t recommend
any of them because they did not have the qualities of those retiring
from the MCC committee.

Stocken’s letter to members said: ‘It has been decided not to recommend any nominees but instead to refer to the skills and attributes possessed by the four elected members who are due to retire. It is highly unlikely the qualities of the new members will match those retiring.’

The six nominees include Hampshire president and former county captain Nick Pocock and City high-flyer Vicky Griffiths, who has been nominated by Andy Flower and Mike Gatting.

Senior MCC member Laurence Dillamore described Stocken’s comments as ‘the most insulting and condescending communication from the club in all the 40 years I have been a member’. He added: ‘It is breathtaking contempt and directly questions the competence of the proposers and seconders.’

An MCC spokesperson said the chairman’s letter was for guidance and had not meant to be a slight on anyone.

Former Tesco chief Sir Terry Leahy (right), tipped to be FA chairman before David Bernstein was appointed, is again being linked with the role.

But there is doubt whether Leahy could commit at least two days a week to the FA having taken up a number of advisory roles since leaving Tesco.

Others in the frame are Football League chairman Greg Clarke, St George's Park chairman David Sheepshanks and independent FA director Heather Rabbatts. Dame Sue Campbell, who is stepping down from the chairmanship of UK Sport, should certainly be on the FA headhunters' list.

It's Roger and out…

The Lawn Tennis Association remuneration committee, which awarded chief executive Roger Draper his 640,000-a-year package, have Draper as one of two executive staff invitees who attend meetings. And you wouldn’t have put it past the hapless LTA for Draper to be present when his salary was discussed. However, it was confirmed yesterday that Draper left the room before his 201,000 bonus was awarded. Cathie Sabin, the LTA deputy president, would not discuss Draper’s money yesterday but said: ‘The board is backing Roger.’

Moz Dee, talkSPORT's programme director who has done a lot to raise the profile of the station, is leaving to set up Contented Digital Media, supplying original material to broadcasters. Dee, who will want to earn more than he did at talkSPORT, is unlikely to have made such a move without deals – most probably with BT Sport – already in place.

British Olympic Association pleasure at securing Minas Tennis Club in Belo Horizonte for their Team GB preparation camp for the 2016 Rio Games will be enhanced by the knowledge Australia were also chasing the venue.

Hard-hitting BBC political editor Nick Robinson, who hosted Manchester United’s UNESCO dinner, hardly put the players through the wringer. United fan Robinson asked Nemanja Vidic what it was like to be back from injury, Rio Ferdinand what it was like to have Vidic back and Wayne Rooney what it was like playing alongside Robin van Persie. The only remotely edgy question was put to Rooney, with Robinson asking for advice on his hairline.

Paul Elliott, an FA ambassador and former Chelsea and Charlton
defender, is in line to head the team that will lead English football's
attempt to stamp out racism.

The formation of the inclusion advisory board that will deliver the
anti-discrimination action plan, revealed by Sportsmail, was the number
one commitment announced by the FA yesterday.

Top man: Highly-respected Paul Elliott

And the highly respected Elliott, one of the few to emerge with credit from England's doomed 2018 World Cup bid, is known to be the preferred choice of Kick it Out leader Lord Ouseley to head this crucial committee which will also work with the FA board on annual progress reports.

Lord Ouseley will be stepping down from the chair of the FA's racial equality advisory group, and the seat on the FA council that goes with the position, in protest at English football's ruling body's 'mealy-mouthed' response to the John Terry and Luis Suarez racism cases. Ouseley sees Elliott, who was on the final shortlist to be one of the independent directors on the FA board, as his obvious replacement on the FA council as head of the inclusion advisory board that will replace the racial equality group.

The FA's multi-point plan, announced yesterday, was revealed by Sportsmail a week ago. The 109 commitments to fight all forms of discrimination are the result of work by all the football bodies since Prime Minister David Cameron's anti-racism football summit last February.

They include cultural lessons for players and managers new to English football, at least 10 per cent of referees and level one coaches to come from ethnic minorities and clubs to face sanctions for failing to deal with racism by players, coaches or their fans.

There are no fixed penalties for racism offences by players mentioned in the proposals but FA chairman David Bernstein said that the issue was 'under active discussion'. A five-game ban has been mooted.

And both player and manager unions have given their support to the idea of mandatory clauses in contracts for players to face action for racist language or behaviour.

Bernstein, who will have this anti-racism action plan as his legacy before his term of office ends next July, said: 'This is a commitment to ensure the game is inclusive and free of discrimination. This continues to be a top priority.'

Bernstein added: 'No player should fear coming out as gay at the risk of suffering discrimination and we continue to strengthen our support programmes to ensure the game is open to all.'

There's no reason to be afraid! FA chief Bernstein says gay players should have no fear about declaring their sexuality

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UPDATED:

00:13 GMT, 21 December 2012

Football Association chairman David Bernstein has insisted that no player should be afraid of coming out as gay after the governing body agreed an action plan to tackle discrimination.

Under the plan agreed by the FA Board clubs will face sanctions for failing to deal with racism and discrimination by players, coaches or their fans.

The FA also says it will strive for at least 10 per cent of referees and level one coaches coming from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Safe: David Bernstein believes no footballer should fear coming out

Players and coaches arriving from abroad will have to undergo mandatory induction lessons to ensure they are aware of the 'British cultural environment'.

The plan, which will now be submitted to the Government, follows a Downing Street summit called in February after the Luis Suarez and John Terry racial abuse cases.

Bernstein said: 'This is a very important day. Ensuring the game is inclusive and combats discrimination has been – and remains – at the top of my agenda.

'There remain challenges ahead in this area and all of football would agree we need to find more ways of developing more black and ethnic minority coaches and creating pathways for them.

'Equally, no football player should fear coming out as gay at the risk of suffering discrimination and we continue to strengthen our support programmes to ensure the game is open to all regardless of their sexuality.

'The over-riding message remains that there is simply no place for any form of discrimination in football.'

The action plan has been agreed by the FA, Premier League, Football League, Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), the League Managers' Association (LMA) and referees' bodies.

Decision: An action plan was formed after racial abuse cases involving Luis Suarez (pictured left) and John Terry

Both the PFA and LMA say they would be in favour of players and managers having it made clear in their contracts they would face action for racist language.

The plan states the organisations would support 'standard clauses that address discriminatory language and behaviour, in managers and coaches' contracts.'

In relation to possible action against clubs, the plan states the FA would work 'with the Premier League and Football League to sanction clubs who repeatedly fail to sanction their employees, who breach their contract or code of conduct, or deal inadequately with fans in relation to discriminatory language or behaviour.'

The action plan should be implemented immediately, say the FA – and certainly underway by next season.

The FA will set up an 'Inclusion Advisory Board' to oversee the action plan, and will also call 'on UEFA to consider minimum standard codes of conduct' as part of the European governing body's club licensing system.

There have been suggestions that a miminum five-match ban will be brought in for racism but that is some way down the line – it will be considered by a working group.

Backed: Culture secretary Maria Miller agreed with the FA chairman

The action plan states it will 'review the sanctions regime to ensure that it is timely, appropriate, proportionate and effective at all levels'.

It also calls for the recruitment process for managers and coaches to be reviewed with a voluntary code set up.

Culture secretary Maria Miller welcomed the action plan.

She said: 'While we have made significant progress in this area over the last two decades, recent incidents have shown a need for concerted action.

'We want to see this action plan implemented and the football authorities to show strong leadership on anti-discrimination at both the professional and grassroots levels of the game. The sports minister will continue to work with the football authorities to make progress in this area.'

Miller said she was 'encouraged' by the proposals to improve the ethnic diversity of coaches.

Wembley put forward for Euro 2020 final after UEFA confirm championship will be played all over the continent

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UPDATED:

22:50 GMT, 6 December 2012

The FA will campaign to host the Euro 2020 final at Wembley after UEFA confirmed their controversial plan to stage the tournament in up to 13 cities across the continent.

Scotland, Wales and Ireland will bid to be involved in the tournament but Wembley — with its 90,000 capacity, modern design and corporate facilities — is a strong contender to stage the final.

The stadium also has the perfect platform to remind UEFA president Michel Platini of its quality when it hosts the Champions League final at the end of this season.

Champions: Spain are the holders of the European crown after beating Italy in the final in Kiev

2020 vision – the key points

Move is a one-off to mark 60th anniversary of the Euros

Bidding proces starts in March next year and decisions on hosts will be made in early 2014

Host cities will not automatically qualify

That game will be preceded by a
week-long UEFA congress in London, due to be attended by the same
dignitaries who will select the Euro 2020 host cities in 2014.

The bizarre format, including the selection process for the cities, has
yet to be revealed but FA chairman David Bernstein said last month, when
Platini’s idea was mooted, that he wanted Wembley to play a major role.
He also flatly rejected a beauty-contest style bidding war after the
failed bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

‘Wembley is incredibly highly thought of by UEFA and it is something we
will probably push for,’ said Bernstein. ‘UEFA want to host a semi-final
and the final on the same ground or in the same city and I think we
will be on their shortlist, although there will be some strong
competition.

Spreading the joy: Michel Platini and UEFA confirmed Euro 2020 will be played across the continent

‘In a pan-European competition, the focus needs to be on the semi-finals
and the final. We would not want to be involved in a World Cup-style
process. We do not want to spend a lot of money on something that fell
flat.’

Platini first aired his proposal after Euro 2012, suggesting it was a
solution to soaring costs and claiming that the European economic crisis
made the financial burden upon one host nation too great.

A more cynical view is that Platini is fuelling his ambitions to succeed
Sepp Blatter as FIFA president by spreading wealth around Europe to
attract support.

What a summer: Wembley saw plenty of top-class action during the 1996 European Championships

Wanderlust: Platini unveiled his plans

The only one of 53 member countries to vote against the idea was Turkey, who originally bid to host the tournament.

‘Instead of a party in one country, you will have a party all over
Europe,’ said UEFA’s general secretary Gianni Infantino after an
executive committee meeting in Switzerland on Thursday.

The selection process for host cities will start in March and will take
about 12 months, with decisions expected in the spring of 2014. Teams
from the countries chosen as venues will have to qualify.

Infantino said: ‘Euro 2020 will be staged across the continent in
various major cities. It is a decision only about 2020. It is not going
forward for ever. Everything is open.’

Scotland, Wales and Ireland, whose original combined bid was not well
received, will promote Hampden Park, the Millennium Stadium and the
Aviva Stadium.

They will find it difficult to compete with Wembley for the final,
however. Platini has already proved how much he admires the stadium by
bringing back the Champions League final two years after it staged
Barcelona’s win against Manchester United in 2011.

PFA chief calls for UEFA to take strong stance over Serbia racism claims as verdict looms

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UPDATED:

17:57 GMT, 21 November 2012

UEFA have been urged to take the 'strongest possible action' against Serbia at Thursday’s disciplinary hearing into racist chanting during the European Under-21 play-off against England.

The Serbian FA has been charged with alleged racist chanting by fans and both associations over the behaviour of players at the end of the game last month.

Professional Football Association chief executive Gordon Taylor said there would be huge disquiet if Serbia were only given a slap on the wrist if found guilty.

Ugly scenes: Serbia assistant coach Dejan Govedarica attempts to keep the opposing players apart during a scuffle after the Under 21 game against England

Taylor said: 'If the Serbian FA are found guilty then we would want UEFA to take the strongest possible action.

'Everybody was shocked by the racist chanting at that match and there needs to be a deterrent.

'We have had our own issues in dealing with incidents of racism of course, such as the length of time taken to deal with the John Terry case, but I don’t believe it is a case of people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

'I believe the FA have grasped the nettle and are trying to bring in improvements.'

Off you go: Serbian's Milos Ninkovic argues with Danny Rose after the England player was sent off

The racism charge was discussed by FA chairman David Bernstein and sports minister Hugh Robertson at a meeting with UEFA president Michel Platini in Switzerland yesterday.

Bernstein told reporters: 'I think UEFA understand our position and that there is a degree of sympathy from Platini but I don’t want to say anything more than that.'

Anger: Marvin Sordell reacts after the U21 game

PFA chairman Clarke Carlisle has previously called for Serbia to be banned over the racism during the match in Krusevac on October 16.

Sunderland’s Danny Rose was sent off after the final whistle for kicking the ball away in reaction to the abuse he was receiving. He later claimed the abuse was racial. The Serbian FA later blamed Rose and accused him of 'inappropriate, unsportsmanlike and vulgar' behaviour.

Bernstein hits back at cover-up claims as Clattenburg awaits ruling on race probe

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UPDATED:

17:14 GMT, 14 November 2012

FA chairman David Bernstein has branded Peter Herbert’s accusation that his organisation was 'institutionally racist' as 'ill-informed' and 'unhelpful'.

Herbert, the chairman of the Society of Black Lawyers, had earlier accused football’s governing body of attempting a ‘cover-up’ with Chelsea over the alleged racist abuse from referee Mark Clattenburg.

But Bernstein said in a statement: 'These ill-informed and unhelpful remarks are at odds with the progressive and responsible approach being followed by the game with the support of Government to deal with these serious issues.

Accused: Mark Clattenburg, pictured leaving his house on Wednesday, is the subject of an FA probe

Loggerheads: David Bernstein (left) has hit back at Peter Herbert's claims of a cover up

WHO IS THIS HERBERT

Peter Herbert is a human rights barrister and chairman of the Society of Black Lawyers. He’s also the man who lodged a complaint with the Metropolitan Police over referee Mark Clattenburg’s alleged abuse of John Mikel Obi.

Herbert was the first chair of the Race-Hate Crimes Forum and, with strong links to the US, has advised on introducing an equivalent to the Rooney Rule in Britain.

'The FA will continue working to strengthen processes to eradicate all forms of discrimination in football.'

The FA will on Thursday make their announcement on the action they will take over the initial claims from Chelsea, and Sportsmail understands they are unlikely to charge the referee.

FA officials have spent a significant
sum on legal advice and taken their time in order to come to the right
decision, and it comes after the Metropolitan Police revealed they have
shelved their investigation into the complaint made by the Society of Black Lawyers.

'It sounds remarkably like a
football cover-up,' the society's chairman told BBC Radio 5 live. 'It
sounds remarkably like the football industry wanted to have this issue
swept under the carpet.'

Chelsea made a formal complaint against Clattenburg on October 29
following their 3-2 home defeat by Manchester United. A day later the FA
opened an investigation into the allegation, part of which was that
Clattenburg used racial language.

Afterwards Chelsea accused
Clattenburg of the racial slur on Mikel – who angrily stormed into his
dressing room and confronted him after the match – and of calling Juan
Mata a ‘Spanish t***’.

The club later dropped the accusation against Mata but pressed ahead and reported the comment about Mikel to the FA.

It is understood Chelsea did not give evidence to the police because
they felt the FA was the appropriate body to deal with the matter.

If, as expected, Clattenburg, 37, is cleared by the FA it will leave the Blues' reputation in tatters after their captain John Terry was banned for four matches and fined 220,000 after being found guilty of racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand by an FA independent regulatory commission.

On Tuesday, the police investigation was discontinued because 'no
victims have come forward' and 'without a victim and/or any evidence
that any offence has been committed, the matter cannot currently be
investigated'.

The FA confirmed its investigation would proceed, but Herbert is furious
that neither the governing body nor Chelsea have taken the matter to
the police.

'We strongly suspect that the FA and/or Chelsea have failed to provide
this information to the Metropolitan Police in order for them to conduct
a proper investigation,' he said.

'The information we had is that there are “no victims”. Well, if there
are no victims, what on earth has been referred to the FA in the first
place

'What on earth are the FA and Chelsea playing then Are they having some
cosy exchange of statements between themselves and not giving it to the
police

'We're going to ask the borough commander for an explanation. Was there
any co-operation Was any evidence given If none was given by the FA or
Chelsea we want to raise that issue with the Minister of Sport.'

Herbert is particularly critical of the FA's decision not to involve the police once Chelsea made their complaint.

'If the Metropolitan Police are not provided with statements what are they supposed to do' he added.

'If a football club has registered a complaint with the FA, we would
expect the FA to refer this matter to the Metropolitan Police.

Marching orders: Clattenburg showed two red cards to Chelsea players in the match, which included a highly controversial decision to show Fernando Torres a second yellow card for diving

Marching orders: Branislav Ivanovic was sent off (above) as Clattenburg struggled to the control the game

'The FA does not have the tools to investigate race-hate crime. We think
that until the FA gets its house in order complaints like this should
be investigated by the police.

'It really does beggar belief that the primary football authorities in
the country do not understand the seriousness of hate crime.'

Clattenburg has not officiated in a match since the incident. But some refereeing experts have suggested he will be handed a last-minute match in the lower leagues this weekend in an under-the-radar bid to assimilate the Durham official back into officiating.

On Tuesday, in an interview with the Evening Standard, Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck stood by the club's allegation levelled at Clattenburg.

'We were guided by obligations that are imposed by the Football Association and also as an employer. FA rule E14 basically says a participant shall immediately report to the association any incident or matter which may be considered to be a misconduct.

'Misconduct is a defined term under the FA regulations and includes such racial behaviour. We also had to consider the Equality Act 2010, which imposes an obligation on an employer to take certain actions if an employee is subject to discrimination by third parties.

'Suppose we had tried to sweep this under the rug and said to the various players, “Look, it's not a big deal and the press are going to be all over us, maybe you want to reconsider”. If that had leaked out, we would've really been crucified.'

Clattenburg timeline: How football has reacted to the claims of racist abuse

Oct 28: Mark Clattenburg sends off Branislav Ivanovic and Fernando Torres, the latter for a disputed dive, as Chelsea go down 3-2 against Manchester United.

Chelsea later confirm they had lodged a formal complaint with the Premier League match delegate regarding 'inappropriate language' made by Clattenburg to two of their players. The complaint is understood to relate to alleged racial comments in incidents involving John Obi Mikel and Juan Mata.

Oct 29: Clattenburg is offered the full support of Prospect, the referees' union.

The Football Association starts an investigation relating to Chelsea's allegations. PFA chief Gordon

Taylor urges the FA to deal with the matter quickly.

The Professional Game Match Officials confirms Clattenburg will not be involved in the next round of matches, stating 'the focus should not be on the officials but on the players and the game itself'.

The Society of Black Lawyers sends a letter to the Metropolitan Police calling for a legal investigation. The Met confirm they have received a complaint and will 'consider any allegation that is made'.

Oct 30: The Metropolitan Police launch an investigation into the incidents at Stamford Bridge.

Oct 31: Chelsea lodge a formal complaint with the Football Association regarding 'inappropriate language' directed at Mikel by Clattenburg during Sunday's match.

Wanderers and Royal Engineers set for FA Cup final remake… 140 years after original showdown

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UPDATED:

00:27 GMT, 7 November 2012

The very first FA Cup final was contested 140 years ago – but the two teams involved will rekindle a rivalry in their first match for more than a century in a replay of that tie on Wednesday.

On March 16, 1872 at the Kennington Oval, now more commonly associated with cricket and known as the Kia Oval, Wanderers and the Royal Engineers contested the Challenge Cup final – the original FA Cup. Wanderers won by a single goal from Morton Betts.

That was after one of the Royal Engineers players broke his collarbone but insisted on staying on the pitch for the entire 90 minutes.

In black and white: The Royal Engineers lost 1-0 to the Wanderers in 1872

The two clubs still exist but have not faced each other for 120 years until when they meet at The Oval again on Wednesday.

Wanderers disbanded in the 1880s but were reformed back in 2009 and the Engineers, founded in 1863 and made up of serving soldiers of the British Army, have been playing all these 140 years.

Bobby Gould, who is one of only four people to win the FA Cup as a player and manager, will take charge of Wanderers for the day.

Watching on: Bernstein (left) will be present at Wednesday's game

And the winners will lift the original FA Cup that is now owned by co-chairman of West Ham David Gold who is allowing it to be taken from its home at the National Football Museum in Manchester. He will be in attendance with FA chairman David Bernstein.

The Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers and help to perform Abide With Me before the teams line up to sing the national anthem.

But it will not all be entirely true to that day 140 years ago – that day Wanderers lined up with eight strikers and the Engineers started with seven.

And the rules of the game have changed significantly. Throw-ins used to be taken by the first team to get the ball, teams changed ends after every goal and there were no nets in the goals.

The game back in 1872 was contested in front of a 2,000-strong crowd and the organisers are confident they will surpass that number.